Panthers take early lead but can't hold off Tigers

By Curt Herron

Oswego did something for over 59 minutes on Thursday that most teams have had a difficult time doing the past two years and that was keeping Plainfield North off of the scoreboard.

But just when it looked like the Panthers might be on the verge of upsetting the favorites in the Suburban Prairie Conference, the host Tigers found their scoring touch.

North collected three goals during the final 20:40 of play to help it rally from a 1-0 deficit to Oswego.

Freshman Ashley Handwork scored two goals and assisted on another to help the Tigers claim a 3-1 SPC win in Plainfield.

The victory was the fifth straight and 11th in the last 12 matches for North (13-3), which also remained atop the SPC standings with a 5-0 mark.

Oswego (4-9), which had dropped its first two SPC matches, has struggled to score on dead ball situations this season.

But a perfectly-executed corner kick from Cathy Tram that was headed in by Emily Swanson in the first half gave coach Jamie Bartkowiak's Panthers the early advantage.

That lead held for more than 36 minutes before Handwork and coach Jane Crowe's Tigers gained control with a flurry of shots that produced three scores.

Click to hear coach Jamie Bartkowiak interview

Handwork scored the first and last goals and assisted Callie O'Donnell on the middle score to turn the tables on upset-minded Oswego.

Despite experimenting with a new look in the back, the Panthers kept the high-powered Tigers at bay throughout much of the match.

But the visitors weren't able to slow down North very much once Handwork got the equalizer with 20:40 remaining in the contest.

Handwork intercepted a Panther pass and immediately got free, allowing her to attack the net with a well-placed shot from close range.

Click to hear Ashley Handwork interview

That score provided the necessary spark for the hosts, who were having a difficult time getting anything going offensively.

North went out and nearly duplicated its match at DeKalb on April 12 when it overcame a 1-0 deficit by scoring four goals in the last 20 minutes.

O'Donnell followed the initial score with a liner that sailed just wide of the net before Handwork headed a slow roller to keeper Katie Wagner.

Oswego tried to respond to the threat when Swanson sent a long free kick toward the net but Lisa Bajkowski headed an attempt wide.

The Tigers were back at it a short time later when Handwork drove again toward the net, only to have her shot try deflected.

On the subsequent corner kick, O'Donnell sent a liner in front of the net but no North player was able to put the ball away.

North finally connected again with 10:10 remaining when Handwork sent a pass to O'Donnell, who fired in a short shot for the goal.

Click to hear Callie O'Donnell interview

After the Panthers sent a liner that was hauled in by keeper Paige Polonus, the Tigers resumed their attack and got one more score.

Katie Cox sent a floater toward the net and Stephanie Barr liner a free kick from long range that was stopped by Wagner.

The Tigers collected an insurance score with 2:00 remaining when Handwork again got free and was able to put in a short attempt.

Neither team enjoyed very much success in generating opportunities during the initial 20 minutes of play.

North received a bouncer toward the net from Brianna Buckley in the opening minute and a longer bouncing try from Barr some time later.

Oswego made the most of its first good chance with 17:21 left in the half when Tram sent in a corner and Swanson headed the ball in for a goal.

Click to hear coach Jane Crowe interview

Shortly after Barr sent in another long free kick, Bajkowski and Polonus collided in front of the net to stop a possible Panther scoring chance.

With about eight minutes left in the half, O'Donnell sent a corner toward the front of the net and Cox headed an attempt to the keeper.

Shortly after the break, Austin Wilson sent in a short shot attempt from the side that was halted by Polonus.

Several minutes later, O'Donnell got off a try from close range which was deflected for the first of a series of three unsuccessful corners.

Not long before they tied things up, the Tigers received a line drive shot from Cox and another attempt from close range by O'Donnell.

North hosts its own tournament throughout next week while Oswego returns to action on Thursday with a home match with Plainfield Central.

CLICK TO SEE PANTHERS' TEAM PAGE

CLICK TO SEE PANTHERS' PHOTO PAGE